Dramatic changes in the movies and TV shows

Chapter 1278 Both sides suffer losses
The grasslands outside the royal tent had been completely turned into a battlefield, and the battle, just as Lin Hao had predicted, had fallen into a fierce stalemate.

Although Jieyuqis's army was exhausted, it had the advantage of large numbers and was composed of veterans who had experienced the baptism of war in the Western Regions, making them extremely resilient.

Princess Ye and Pugu Yehu's troops, on the other hand, waited in comfort, relying on their familiarity with the terrain and a fierce determination born of being driven to the brink, and refused to yield an inch of ground.

The mournful neighing of warhorses, the clash of weapons, and the wails of the dying have replaced the pastoral songs of the past. Every grassy slope and every water source has changed hands repeatedly, leaving behind layers upon layers of corpses.

This stalemate was quickly broken by speculators both inside and outside the royal tent.

Some tribal leaders who were originally neutral began to have their own ideas after seeing that the Pugu tribe could actually withstand the military might of Jieyuqis.

They reasoned that if they offered timely assistance to the relatively weaker Princess Ye's side and helped them win, the spoils and power they would receive in the future would far exceed those from those who sided with the powerful Jieyugas.

Thus, forces of varying sizes poured out from the direction of the royal tent and joined the ranks of those fighting against Jieyuqis.

When Jieyuqis saw this, he was both surprised and angry, but he did not back down.

He had served as prime minister for many years and had deep roots in the government. Upon hearing the news, the tribes that were loyal to him also gathered from their respective pastures and rushed to support him day and night.

The scale of the war expanded rapidly, like a snowball rolling downhill, evolving from an initial clash between two forces into a massive melee that engulfed almost all the tribes surrounding the royal camp.

Only Princess Xian'an's forces, and a few tribes that remained loyal to the old Khan and had not yet clearly taken sides, were struggling to maintain neutrality, like a few lone boats in a stormy sea.

When Lin Hao discovers that a certain elite force of Jieyugas is about to break through the Pugu tribe's defenses, he will infiltrate the formation and, with a cold arrow or a precise surprise attack, the Jieyugas general will inexplicably perish.

The attack, now leaderless, crumbled instantly, allowing the Pugu tribe to catch their breath and even launch a counterattack.

Conversely, when Pugu Yehu personally leads tribal warriors in an attempt to encircle and annihilate a part of Jieyujias, Lin Hao will transform into a "fierce general" in Jieyujias' army, single-handedly disrupting the Pugu tribe's formation, creating chaos, and allowing the besieged troops to break through.

Lin Hao did not linger in the fight. After his attack, whether it hit or not, he immediately fled and disappeared into the chaotic battlefield.

His actions kept the battle in a brutal stalemate. Both sides felt they had a chance to win, but always fell short at the crucial moment.

This back-and-forth struggle greatly depleted the manpower and fighting will of both sides.

Hatred intensified rapidly amidst this endless fighting.

Initially, there might still be some sentiment of "kinship" between the two sides, and they might accept surrender or exchange prisoners.

But as Lin Hao repeatedly provoked their most sensitive nerves, the soldiers, who were used to seeing their comrades die tragically, had already gone mad with bloodlust.

surrender?

That's not true. If you meet on the battlefield, it's a fight to the death.

Seeing the Uyghur elite disappear at an alarming rate due to internal strife, the tribal leaders who remained loyal to the old Khan and tried to maintain the overall strength of the Uyghurs could no longer sit still.

They dispatched highly respected envoys to the camps of Jieyuqis and Princess Ye respectively, attempting to mediate and urging both sides to cease hostilities in order to prioritize the overall situation of the Uyghurs.

However, how could the leaders of both sides, blinded by rage, possibly listen to the so-called "big picture"?

Jieyugas believed this was Princess Ye's delaying tactic, while Princess Ye felt that Jieyugas was trying to divide and weaken her supporters, and the mediation efforts were in vain.

Just then, Lin Hao ambushed both sides' envoy teams again, his movements clean and efficient, yet deliberately leaving vague, directional traces.

Some envoy teams were completely wiped out, with arrows or knife marks left at the scene vaguely pointing to the Jieyuqis tribe's style, while others were disguised as attacks by the Pugu tribe's cavalry.

When the news reached them, the leaders of the neutral tribes were furious.

They meant well, yet this is how they ended up! Whatever the truth, blood must be repaid in blood! The fury of revenge overwhelmed reason, and the last remaining force attempting neutrality was completely dragged into the quagmire of war.

Based on vague "evidence," they joined the fray and launched attacks against the "culprit" they believed to be.

The Uyghur civil war had reached its most brutal and chaotic climax. Almost no one in the entire area surrounding the royal tent could remain uninvolved; everyone was caught up in this vortex of destruction.

The snipe and the clam not only locked in a fierce struggle, but also dragged those around them who tried to mediate into the fray, resulting in a bloody battle that stained the vast grassland red.

The fierce fighting over the past few days has left all sides exhausted.

Jieyugas's troops lost their initial vigor; the soldiers' eyes were numb, and they swung their swords only on instinct.

Princess Ye's side, the Pugu warriors, also suffered heavy losses, and their initial advantage of being well-rested and waiting for the enemy to tire themselves out had long been exhausted.

The tribes that joined later also suffered heavy losses in the ensuing chaos.

Everyone realized that the war was nearing its end, and whoever could secure the support of the last remaining fresh troops would win this Pyrrhic victory.

Naturally, everyone's gaze unconsciously turned to Princess Xian'an, the only one inside the royal tent who was still fully reorganized and recuperating.

Her well-equipped, uncombat-ready troops became the last and heaviest weight in determining the final tip of the scales.

The envoys of Princess Jieyujiasheye almost wore down the threshold of Princess Xian'an's tent.

They all made solemn promises: more pastures, more prestigious titles, and greater treasures, all in exchange for the princess's support to deliver a fatal blow.

Inside the tent, Princess Xian'an, facing the pleas of envoys from all sides, fiercely suppressed her excitement, her face revealing just the right amount of pity and helplessness.

She frowned slightly and sighed, "Why must the Grand Chancellor and Princess Ye do this? They are of the same origin, why are they so eager to harm each other!"

"Those who have died or been wounded these past few days are all my good Uyghur sons! If we had sat down and discussed this sooner, would things have come to this?"

Princess Xian'an looked genuinely sincere, and even Lin Hao, who knew the inside story, couldn't help but admire her political talent while observing from the shadows.

"Your Highness, it's too late to say anything now!" The envoys could only offer wry smiles and words of advice.

"The blood feud between the two sides has already been formed, and only by determining a victor can it be quelled. We beg Your Highness to consider the plight of the Uyghur people and lend a helping hand!"

After repeated pleas from both sides' envoys, Princess Xian'an seemed finally "persuaded." She stood up and said with a helpless expression:

"Enough! This pointless fighting should indeed end. I will send troops now, not to help either side, but to stop this tragedy that brings pain to our loved ones and joy to our enemies!"

When the news spread, both sides breathed a sigh of relief, believing that Princess Xian'an had been persuaded by them and was about to secure their victory.

The following day, the remaining soldiers on the battlefield continued their numb fighting.

Suddenly, a well-organized army appeared on the horizon, its helmets and armor gleaming, its banners bright and clear—it was Princess Xian'an's army.

Most strikingly, the soldiers in the front row were all clad in full suits of gleaming, cold iron armor, resembling a moving steel wall under the sunlight, exuding an imposing aura and a sense of oppression.

"The Khatun's (Queen's) army has arrived!"

"The princess has come to help us!" The shouts of soldiers from both sides echoed across the battlefield, filled with hope and exhaustion, each believing that the princess had come to their aid.

However, this new force did not join any side of the battle as they had expected.

Instead, they used a well-organized formation to swiftly and effectively divide and encircle the two sides, who were already exhausted and disorganized from the fighting.

The sharp spearheads were aimed at everyone in the circle who was holding a weapon.

When Jieyujias, Princess Ye, Pugu Yehu and others were brought before Princess Xian'an, their faces showed a mixture of astonishment, anger and disbelief.

"Princess Xian'an! What do you mean by this?" Jieyujias asked, barely suppressing his anger.

He couldn't understand how this seemingly weak princess dared to be so assertive.

Princess Ye also shouted sharply, "Does Your Highness intend to wipe us all out in one fell swoop?"

Princess Xian'an sat upright on her horse, her gaze calmly sweeping over these once arrogant and domineering figures. She then said indifferently, "I have long said that I cannot bear to see my Uyghur warriors slaughtering each other like this. I have come here today not to help anyone, but to stop the war!"

She pointed to the heavily armed and spirited armored soldiers around her, and then made everyone look at the ragged, exhausted, and defeated generals in front of her.

Then, in an unquestionable tone, he said:

"Gentlemen, the battle is over. Lay down your weapons and come with me back to the royal tent to discuss the aftermath."

"If anyone makes any further unusual moves!" She didn't finish her sentence, but the slightly forward-leaning spear tips in the hands of the surrounding soldiers said it all.

Jieyugas looked around at his subordinates, who could barely hold their swords, and then at the gleaming steel jungle under Princess Xian'an's command. A deep sense of powerlessness welled up in his heart.

He lowered his head bitterly, looking at the familiar armor behind Princess Xian'an, and realized that she had gained the support of Grand Commander Lin.

Recalling the unparalleled military might of the Tang Dynasty that he had witnessed with his own eyes some time ago, he could only grit his teeth and say:
"For the sake of the Khatun, we will obey!" At this moment, calling the other party "Khatun" is a last-ditch effort, hoping to exchange their status for a glimmer of hope.

Princess Ye and Pugu Yehu were ashen-faced, but they knew that the situation was hopeless and that resistance would only lead to their deaths. They could only close their eyes in resentment.

Under the threat of overwhelming force, this long-running and bloody Uyghur civil war was forcibly brought to an end in a manner that was almost bloodless.

From an emotional standpoint, Princess Xian'an would certainly love to wipe out both sides in one fell swoop, or even better, have both Jieyujiasi and Princess Ye's forces completely wiped out.

However, from a practical point of view, Princess Xian'an has only been in the Uyghur Khaganate for a short time and does not yet have the strength to take sole control of the Uyghur Khaganate. Rather than introducing other powerful tribal leaders, it would be better to continue using these two people.

Whether it was Jieyugas or Princess Ye, they both wielded considerable influence within the Uyghur Kingdom. Their presence was crucial in preventing external forces from gaining access to the royal court.

Moreover, Jieyugas and Princess Ye have been fighting for many days, and now they have formed an irreconcilable blood feud. It is impossible for them to join forces against me in the short term.

Moreover, according to Lin Hao's plan, they could use their reputations and conflicts to temporarily control the political situation in the Uyghur Khaganate.

It's not too late to deal with them after a few more years when I've gathered more power.

Princess Xian'an quickly took control of the situation and led everyone back to the royal tent.

Under the pretext of "stopping the rebellion and quelling the unrest," she placed key leaders such as Jieyujias and Princess Ye, along with their remaining forces, under surveillance.

However, no immediate purge was carried out, because the primary task at present was to re-establish the ruling order.

Now that Jieyugas, Princess Ye, and the leaders of other forces have all suffered heavy losses, it's finally time to divide the spoils.

In the main tent where the royal council was held, Princess Xian'an summoned influential leaders such as Jieyujias and Princess Ye, as well as some nobles who had survived the chaos of war.

"The root of this turmoil lies in the fact that the one in the royal tent (referring to the usurper Khan) seized the throne illegitimately, which caused the people's hearts to be scattered and led to a great disaster."

Princess Xian'an cut to the chase, saying, "The most urgent task is to quickly establish a new Khan and stabilize the people's hearts!"

Although Jieyugas had suffered a great loss of strength, his remaining prestige was still intact, and he immediately replied:

The Khatun is absolutely right. The loyal Khagan was the eldest son of the long-lived Tianqin Khagan, and he was unfortunately killed. His son should rightfully inherit the throne.

"I believe that although Prince Achuo is young, his bloodline is pure, and he should be established as the new Khan!"

This was his original plan, and bringing it up now was both a matter of routine and an attempt to gain some initiative.

Princess Ye's lips moved, and she originally wanted to object, but seeing Princess Xian'an's calm gaze and the armored guards that could be vaguely seen outside the tent, she swallowed her words.

Given the current situation where the enemy is strong and we are weak, the most important priority is to preserve our own strength.

As for the Khan she promoted? Sometimes certain sacrifices are inevitable, otherwise everyone else would be targeting her.

Princess Xian'an nodded slightly, naturally going along with it:
“What the Grand Minister said is in accordance with propriety and law. I also believe that Achuo is the only suitable candidate for Khan. A country cannot be without a ruler for a day. This matter should be handled sooner rather than later.”

Her gaze swept over the crowd, and she said forcefully:
"If no one objects, then it shall be so. We shall jointly petition the Emperor of the Great Tang to appoint Achuo as the new Uyghur Khan."

No one dared to object, and the memorial jointly signed by the three parties was quickly sent to Chang'an by fast horse.

Next, we need to deal with the problem of "fake sweat".

With almost no suspense, the outcome was a "unanimous" decision by Princess Xian'an, Jieyujias, and Princess Ye.

The Khan who had usurped the throne not long before was dragged off the throne on charges of "regicide and usurpation," publicly executed, and his close associates were also eradicated.

After two rounds of purges, the power of the Uyghur royal family, the Yaoluoge clan, was greatly reduced, laying the groundwork for the future power structure.

Finally, there is the most crucial issue: status.

According to Uyghur custom, after the new Khan Achuo ascends the throne, he should marry the former Khan's Khatun (Princess Xian'an).

But Princess Xian'an went to great lengths to stage this whole thing in order to avoid such an outcome, so how could she willingly accept this fate?
At the ceremony announcing Achuo's accession to the throne, Princess Xian'an, dressed in her finest attire, stood beside the young Achuo.

Then, addressing the numerous Uyghur nobles in the tent, he said loudly:
“A-Chuo is too young to handle state affairs. I am a princess of the Tang Dynasty, and I have been ordered to marry him to maintain the friendship between the Tang and Hui peoples.”

"In accordance with the rites and laws of the Central Plains, I, in the name of the Grand Empress Dowager (equivalent to the Empress Dowager because she married Achuo's grandfather), will rule as regent and assist the new Khan until he comes of age!"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority, silencing the entire tent.

Normally, Princess Xian'an would not be allowed to act so recklessly, but now Princess Xian'an has a strong army and is the largest force in the royal court, and it seems that she also has the support of the Tang Dynasty.

Although Jieyugas and Princess Ye and the others were unwilling, their own strength had been severely damaged, and they could only sigh helplessly.

Furthermore, the other side raised the banner of "Tang Dynasty" and "Central Plains Etiquette," leaving them with no choice but to submit.

In addition, Lin Hao assisted Princess Xian'an in quickly eliminating the forces opposing her near the royal tent.

She also lavishly rewarded the tribes that had come to her aid, and used the pastures, treasures, and official positions left behind by the families that had been cleared during the internal strife to win over many people, which greatly increased her strength.

Thus, the first ruler in Uyghur history to effectively rule as "Supreme Khatun" was born.

This laid the legal foundation for her to control the Uyghurs for decades to come.

······
After the situation stabilized initially, Lin Hao knew it was time for him to retire gracefully, so he secretly went to see Princess Xian'an.

"Your Highness, the matter with the Uyghurs has been settled, and there are many affairs to attend to in the Western Regions. I must return to Luntai!" Lin Hao said, bowing.

Princess Xian'an looked at the man before her, the one who had single-handedly stirred up the Uyghur strife and helped her ascend to the pinnacle of power, and said with sincerity and gratitude in her eyes:
"I will never forget the kindness of Grand Commander Lin. If it weren't for your strategic planning and strong support, we would not be where we are today."

She paused, then solemnly promised:
"Please convey to Prince Guo and Protector Yang that from this day forward, the Uyghurs will be the most steadfast ally of the Tang Dynasty."

"If the Western Regions need anything, or if there is any intelligence or supplies needed to fight against Tibet, I will do my utmost to help!"

She ordered her men to bring out the generous gifts she had prepared beforehand, mostly Uyghur treasures and fine horses, and presented them to Lin Hao and the Tang army in the Western Regions as a token of her gratitude.

Before parting, she personally escorted Lin Hao to the tent entrance, gazing south, and whispered:

"I hope that one day we will meet again, not in this royal tent beyond the Great Wall, but in the Daming Palace in Chang'an, to celebrate the revival of the Tang Dynasty!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Hao's mind raced, and he instantly understood the other party's thoughts. Although they were deeply hidden, Lin Hao still managed to perceive them.

It must be said that Emperors Li Er and Wu Zhou had a profound influence on the Tang Dynasty. Nowadays, anyone with even a little bit of royal blood wants to learn from them.

However, Lin Hao pretended not to know and solemnly returned the greeting, saying, "Your Highness, take care. I believe that day is not too far away!"

With the fruits of a strong alliance with the Uyghurs and Princess Xian'an's promise, Lin Hao quietly left the grassland that had just been baptized by blood and fire.

Next, Lin Hao's gaze turned to the lush and verdant Ili River Valley, which he had long been eyeing.